In early 1946, Arnold Denker and Herman Steiner played a 10-game match for the US championship. I'm assuming that since no one organized one in 1945, a match was arranged between these two. Denker had won the 1944 Championship, and Steiner was tied for 3rd with Horowitz - behind Denker and Fine. Denker won 6-4.
Different sources give different prize funds, which would have been monstrous for the time. Chessgames dot com says it was $2000, with 60% to the winner, and 40% to the loser The February 1946 issue of "Chess Review" mentions "a minimum prize fund of $2000 was to be raised by Fritz Brieger of the Queens Chess Club". No money details are given in later issues containing the results and games.
However - the April 1977 issue of "Chess Life & Review" says they "played a match for $5000", with no other details except the 6-4 score.
In any case, $2000 in 1946 would be worth around $27,000 today, and $5,000 would be worth close to $70,000. I'm sure that $5,000 in 1946 would have been enough to buy a small house, or several cars..
Different sources give different prize funds, which would have been monstrous for the time. Chessgames dot com says it was $2000, with 60% to the winner, and 40% to the loser The February 1946 issue of "Chess Review" mentions "a minimum prize fund of $2000 was to be raised by Fritz Brieger of the Queens Chess Club". No money details are given in later issues containing the results and games.
However - the April 1977 issue of "Chess Life & Review" says they "played a match for $5000", with no other details except the 6-4 score.
In any case, $2000 in 1946 would be worth around $27,000 today, and $5,000 would be worth close to $70,000. I'm sure that $5,000 in 1946 would have been enough to buy a small house, or several cars..
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